Air (or fuel vapor) is trapped in the bowl of the filter. It changes according to pressure (as you have already pointed out). If you look the outlet of the filter is lower than the top of the filter which prevents it from bleeding the air out. If you could bleed the air out it would stay full but the fuel would eventually vaporize enough for the "air" to return.I agree that the whole purpose of the glass filter is to see the quality and quality of the fuel going through. Not Trapped air 